Adjustable mattress

ABSTRACT

A bed mattress embodying top and bottom compressibly resilient pads aligned with each other and having adjacent surfaces defining an intervening space. These pads, susceptible of use in either single or double mattresses, can be made of foam rubber and are confined within the limits of an encasing cover made of ticking or the like. Pad adjusting means is confined in the space between the pads and is capable of moving the top and bottom surfaces toward and from each other in a manner to vary the expansible and contractible cushioning properties of the pads at will. The adjusting means is captive and operable within the space, is mechanical, is optionally manually regulatable, and capable of compressing and stiffening the pads in a manner to provide a firm or soft mattress, as desired.

United States Patent [1 1 Johnson ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS Calvin N. Johnson, Mt. Airy, NC.

[73] Assignee: Kenneth M. Chitton,

Winston-Salem, NC. a part interest [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 168,552

[75] Inventor:

[ 1 June 19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg A bed mattress embodying top and bottom compressibly resilient pads aligned with each other and having adjacent surfaces defining an intervening space. These pads, susceptible of use in either single or double mattresses, can be made of foam rubber and are confined within the limits of an encasing cover made of ticking or the like. Pad adjusting means is confined in the space between the pads and is capable of moving the top and bottom surfaces toward and from each other in a manner to vary the expansible and contractible cushioning properties of the pads at will. The adjusting means is captive and operable within the space, is mechanical, is optionally manually regulatable, and capable of compressing and stiffening the pads in a manner to provide a firm or soft mattress, as desired.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIED M19875 3139.409

80H! 1 If 2 Calvin IV. Johnson INVESTOR WWW The present invention relates to mattresses of the type wherein a mattress rigidifying panel or board is commonly employed to stiffen and render the mattress firm and pertains, more particularly, to a mattress wherein upper and lower companion sections are spaced apart, each section being provided with a rigidifying panel, and the panels being capable of movement toward and from each other to achieve the degree of firmness desired.

An object of the present invention is to advance the art of bed mattresses and, in so doing, to provide a simple, practical and acceptable adaptation wherein upper and lower encased pads or sections have adjacent faces spaced apart and to also provide manually regulable mechanical means in the enclosed space for simultaneously compressing the respective pads or sections.

The concept is such that it lends itself to satisfactory and appropriate incorporation in either a single mattress or a double mattress. Although a double mattress is herein shown in certain of the views of the drawing, it will be understood that the disclosure is such as to comprehend upper and lower encased foam rubber or equivalent pads or sections with adjusting means therebetween, or, as in the case of a double mattress, paired upper and lower pads with individual adjusting means incorporated therein whereby two occupants of the same mattress can regulate and adjust their respective half portions to the degree of firmness desired.

For background purposes the reader, if so desired, may take into account and evaluate U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,390 granted to Morton Stone and pertaining to a mattress and cushion construction and may also evaluate the upholstery construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,690 granted to George S. Ramsay.

Briefly, and having in mind, a single-type mattress the embodiment under consideration is characterized by a first compressibly resilient pad which constitutes a top mattress section. A second compressibly resilient pad, which constitutes a bottom section, is aligned with and underlies the underneath side of the top section. These two companion sections are encased within the limiting confines of a stout ticking or flexible covering which is designed and adapted to wholly enclose both of the pads or sections. The first pad has a bottom surface spaced above and parallel with the underlying top surface of the second pad. Pad adjusting means is confined and interposed in the space between the pads and is functionally capable of moving the top and bottom surfaces of the pads toward and from each other, that is, in a manner to vary the cushioning properties of the pads at will.

More specifically, the pad adjusting means is captive within the limited confines of the encompassing space, is mechanical, is optionally expansible and contractible, and is manually regulatable and, what is more, is capable of compressing and stiffening the pads in a manner to resist the deformable bending thereof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective which may be interpreted as covering a single mattress or, as suggested in FIG. 2, a double mattress wherein the coordinating half portions are capable of relative adjustment.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken approximately on the plane of the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows and, being on an en larged scale, indicating what may be interpreted as a double type mattress.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail section on a suitably enlarged scale taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4-is a further enlarged detail view with parts in section and elevation showing not only the means of tying the pads or mattress sections together but illustrating the toggle-type linkage means, the threaded shaft, adjusting nuts and other details.

FIG. 5 is a view on a scale similar to that shown in FIG. 4 and which shows a modification, that is wherein instead of the toggle links, single links are used in conjunction with worm and worm gear adjusting means.

And FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing the linkage means illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive.

It is reiterated that the inventive concept is to be herein construed as comprehending a simple single mattress or double mattress and that the linkage means appearing in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 constitutes one form while the linkage means appearing in FIG. 5 is directed to a modified form. FIG. 5 will be referred to in detail in the following description.

Referring to one half portion of the mattress shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and keeping in mind the single mattress idea and for purposes of simplification of description, one half portion of the illustrated mattress is characterized by a first compressibly resilient pad 8 which is made of foam rubber and can be said to be flat-faced and rectangular in plan. This pad constitutes a top section whose bottom side or surface 10 is opposed to spaced from and cooperable with a top surface 12 of the second compressibly resilient pad which constitutes the bottom section and which is denoted at 14. The bottom or underneath side of the top section 8, denoted at 16, is provided with a substantially rigid upper or firstrigidifying panel 18. This panel is thin compared to the cushion or pad but covers the entire coacting surface. It is like and opposed to and spaced above a similar rigid compressing panel which is denoted in FIG. 2 at 20 and which covers the top surface of the section 14, these two panels being spaced apart to provide a space for the manually regulable mechanical adjusting means. In addition to these pads or upper and lower sections, the respective end portions of the mattress are provided with rigid wooden or equivalent end walls 22. These end walls are commensurate in size with the panels or mattress sections, the upper and lower longitudinal edges 24 and 26 FIG. 1 being normally flush with the mattress section surfaces.

These end walls 22 (only one appearing in FIG. 1) are provided at thehead and foot ends of the overall mattress and are such in shape and proportion that they serve to box in the space 28, that is the space for the adjusting means. Before describing the adjusting means it is to be pointed out that the covering, which may be made of ticking or the like, is tight-fitted and is denoted by the numeral 30 and snugly encloses the mattress sections, panels, space 28 and also the end walls 22.

The adjusting means is characterized by a suitable shaft 32 (FIG. 6), that is a shaft which is arranged in the space 28 and has its ends journaled for rotation in the bearings provided therefor in the end walls 22. The exposed end portions of the shaft or shafts is not detailed but is indicated generally at 34 in FIG. 1. This end portion is provided with a crank 36 which is accessibly exposed for use as brought out for example in FIG. 3. The end of the crank is provided with a slot and a hinged handgrip 38 folds into the slot when not being used. When in use the handgrip is swung out to the useful position as suggested at the left in FIG. 1 whereupon the crank and shaft is operated to bring into play the screwthreaded portion 40 appearing in FIG. 6. This screwthreaded portion serves to accommodate a traveling or adjusting nut 42 whose lower end 44 is fixed to a rod 46 which is at right angles to the shaft 32 and underlies the same as brought out in FIG. 6. This rod has converging end portions 48 of toggle-like links 50 connected thereto. The free end portions 52 are provided with angle brackets or clips 54 which are anchored in place on the opposed mattress section compressing panels 18 and 20 as perhaps best shown in FIG. 2. Thus each shaft 32 with its threaded portion 40 serves to adjust the nut 42 which in turn rocks the rod 46 and spreads the links 50 apart or moves them together in such a manner that the panels 18 and 20 are capable of adjustment toward and from each other. It follows that the mattress sections or pads 8 and 14 can be compressed and stiffened or allowed to expand, as desired, depending on the adjustment result desired.

Reverting to FIG. 4 which shows the particulars in multiple association it will also be noted that the mattress sections are partly connected together by flexible tufting ties 56 which pass through openings provided therefor in the pads and also in the panels and which have button-like heads 58 at the opposite ends which result in appropriate tufting of the top and bottom walls of the covering.

It may not be desirable under all circumstances to use the toggle type linkage means for adjustment of the panels and under the circumstances an alternate arrangement is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. the top section or pad is denoted and differentiated by the numeral 60, the bottom pad or section being designated at 62. Here the top or upper rigid panel (plywood or the like) is denoted at 64. It cooperates with the lower panel 66 and defines the aforementioned adjustment mechanism space 68. In this arrangement the adjustably mounted shaft 70 (not fully detailed) is provided with worms one of which is denoted at 72. The threads on this worm serve to accommodate the teeth on the companion worm gear 74 which is bracketed in place by an angle bracket or clip as at 76. The rod means in this instance is denoted at 78 and a lower end of the rigid link is connected thereto as at 80. The upper end of thelink is provided with an idling roller 82 which has contact with the coacting surface of the panel 64. Thus with this adaptation the link means 84 is used in the manner similar to that already described and serves to accomplish a similar mattress expanding and contracting result. In

' FIG. 5 the snug-fitting cover or covering means is denoted at 86, the ties at 88 and the tufting buttons at 90.

The aforementioned linkage or link means is denoted, generally stated, at 39 in FIG. 6.

It is submitted that a careful consideration of the views of the drawing in conjunction with the specification and the invention as claimed will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction and features and advantages of the novel adjustable mattress. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A mattress comprising a first compressibly resilient pad constituting a top section and having flat top and bottom surfaces, a second compressibly resilient pad like said first pad, aligned with, underlying and cooperating with said first pad and constituting a bottom section and also having flat top and bottom surfaces, the top surface of said bottom section being spaced below and being parallel with the bottom surface of said first pad, a first rigid one piece thrust panel spanning and completely underlying and stabilizing the bottom surface of said first pad, a second rigid one piece thrust panel like said first thrust panel and completely spanning the top surface of said second pad and spaced from and situated directly below said first thrust panel, said panels defining a variable space between'themselves, rigid end walls abutting coacting relatively movable marginal edges of said pads and also said panels and boxing-in coordinating end portions of said space, said end walls having upper and lower lengthwise edges which are cooperable with the respectively associated top and bottom surfaces of said pads, at least one shaft housed in said space and having terminal end portions journaled in bearings provided therefor in the respectively oriented end walls and having an accessible fixedly mounted handcrank for turning said shaft, panel spreading linkage means located within the confines of said space and interposed between, connected with and serving to spread said panels apart and having operating connection with said shaft, and flexible covering means, ticking for example, encasing and concealing said pads, panels, end walls and said space and assisting in maintaining said pads and panels in mattress-forming relationship.

2. The mattress defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said linkage means is characterized by a pair of divergent links having outer divergent ends provided with brackets which are fixedly bracketed to coacting portions of said panels and having inner converging ends fixed to an oscillatory rod disposed at right angles to the axis of the shaft, said shaft having a screw-threaded portion and said rod having a nut fixed thereon and operatively mounted on said screwthreaded portion.

3. The mattress defined in and according to claim I, and wherein said linkage means is characterized by an oscillatory rod which is disposed at right angles to said shaft, said rod provided with a rotary worm, a worm gear meshing with said worm, said worm gear being operatively bracketed on one of said panels, a rigid link having one end operatively joined to said gear, the other end having an anti-friction roller operatively contacting a movable surface of said second thrust panel. 

1. A mattress comprising a first compressibly resilient pad constituting a top section and having flat top and bottom surfaces, a second compressibly resilient pad like said first pad, aligned with, underlying and cooperating with said first pad and constituting a bottom section and also having flat top and bottom surfaces, the top surface of said bottom section being spaced below and being parallel with the bottom surface of said first pad, a first rigid one piece thrust panel spanning and completely underlying and stabilizing the bottom surface of said first pad, a second rigid one piece thrust panel like said first thrust panel and completely spanning the top surface of said second pad and spaced from and situated directly below said first thrust panel, said panels defining a variable space between themselves, rigid end walls abutting coacting relatively movable marginal edges of said pads and also said panels and boxing-in coordinating end portions of said space, said end walls having upper and lower lengthwise edges which are cooperable with the respectively associated top and bottom surfaces of said pads, at least one shaft housed in said space and having terminal end portions journaled in bearings provided therefor in the respectively oriented end walls and having an accessible fixedly mounted handcrank for turning said shaft, panel spreading linkage means located within the confines of said space and interposed between, connected with and serving to spread said panels apart and having operating connection with said shaft, and flexible covering means, ticking for example, encasing and concealing said pads, panels, end walls and said space and assisting in maintaining said pads and panels in mattress-forming relationship.
 2. The mattress defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said linkage means is characterized by a pair of divergent links having outer divergent ends provided with brackets which are fixedly bracketed to coacting portions of said panels and having inner converging ends fixed to an oscillatory rod disposed at right angles to the axis of the shaft, said shaft having a screw-threaded portion and said rod having a nut fixed thereon and operatively mounted on said screw-threaded portion.
 3. The mattress defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said linkage means is characterized by an oscillatory rod which is disposed at right angles to said shaft, said rod provided with a rotary worm, a worm gear meshing with said worm, said worm gear being operatively bracketed on one of said panels, a rigid link having one end operatively joined to said gear, the other end having an anti-friction roller operatively contacting a movable surface of said second thrust panel. 